Durant's Buzzer Beater Downs Knicks

Kevin Durant scored 30 points, including the game winner, to help OKC to 101-98 victory.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:10 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Jan 22, 2011 9:56 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY – Timing is everything for great shooters.

Kevin Durant was having a rough shooting night for the Thunder but came through down the stretch, hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat the Knicks, 101-98.

With 30 seconds remaining, Russell Westbrook hit 1-of-2 free throws to tie the game at 98.

On the other end, the Knicks’ Raymond Felton missed a 17-foot jumper and Durant pulled down the rebound with six seconds remaining and called timeout.

With the clock winding down, Durant found the ball and hoisted a fadeaway 3 over New York’s Danilo Gallinari to seal the victory.

Durant scored 10 points in the final five minutes of the game in what was previously a poor shooting night. He finished 10-of-25 from the floor for 30 points.

New York actually led most of the game, including as many as nine points when a jumper from Felton made it 64-55 shortly into the third quarter.

After the first quarter, Oklahoma City’s only lead came at the final buzzer.

Durant added 12 rebounds to go with his game-high 30 points, and Serge Ibaka tied a career high with 15 rebounds. Westbrook had 28 points in the game.

The game was not the first time Durant had hit a clutch 3 against the Knicks. On Feb. 20 of last season in New York, Durant hit a long 3-pointer with six seconds left to send the game into overtime. The Thunder would go on to win that one by three points as well, 121-118.

The buzzer beater was not Durant's first of his career, but it was his first in a Thunder uniform. He hit a 3-point buzzer beater as part of the Seattle Sonics in his rookie season to beat the Atlanta Hawks 126-123 on Nov. 16, 2007.

Oklahoma City outrebounded the Knicks 57-40 in Saturday's game to overcome just 38 percent shooting on the night. The Thunder remained tied with Dallas for third place in the Western Conference after the victory.

Danilo Gallinari led the Knicks with 23 points.

Oklahoma City will hit the road to take on the New Orleans Hornets on Monday at 7 p.m.